Reem* messaged Arab World Media (AWM) via their website saying, ‘I want to know more about Christianity and how to become a Christian.’
No Christians in Libya
When Nader* from AWM asked her why she was interested in learning about Christianity, she said: ‘All the information on the internet is conflicting, so I decided to reach out to a Christian. As you know, there are no Christians here in Libya, so that is why I contacted you directly.’
Nader then began to explain to her the character of Christ in the gospel. Like most Muslims, Reem viewed the Christian faith through the lens of Islam. She found it hard to understand terms like ‘Son of God’ – or the concept of the Bible being God’s word written through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. After several months of discussion, dialogue and reading with Nader about the basics of the Christian faith, she understood and was able to explain these truths correctly.
From childhood
She sent a long voice message explaining her story:
As a little girl, Reem lived with her family in Egypt. There was a church on their street, but even though she always wanted to go in, her mother would never let her.
After the family returned to Libya, she started asking why she wasn’t allowed to learn about Christianity. She was told that Christians were infidels who worship three gods. Instead of giving up, she searched online about Christianity. She found in Christ the God she was searching for – a God who calls for love and forgiveness.
Her family noticed a change
After much dialogue and discussion with Nader, she prayed and accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour! She felt peace and security in her heart. But she was also afraid of how her family would react, so she decided not to tell anyone that she was a Christian.
Reem stopped performing Islamic rituals, and her family noticed. One day, her sister entered her room and heard her praying aloud ‘the Christian prayer’ and told the family. It was a very scary day for Reem, but God gave her great strength. She told her family that she had become a Christian out of firm conviction and faith in God. They accepted her decision as though controlled by a stronger authority and fell silent.
Reem longs for there to be a church in Libya, and desires to have a role in proclaiming the gospel in her country and to her people.
*Names changed for security
Source: Arab World Media
